‘My personal challenge for 2017 is to have visited and met people in every state in the US by the end of the year,’ he wrote.

‘I’ve spent significant time in many states already, so I’ll need to travel to about 30 states this year to complete this challenge.

‘After a tumultuous last year, my hope for this challenge is to get out and talk to more people about how they’re living, working and thinking about the future.’

Zuckerberg said he thought it was time to meet the people who use Facebook – and could also use the meetings to help further a much rumoured move into politics.

According to a recent claim by CNBC, Zuckerberg sought to be allowed to serve two years in government without losing control of Facebook, according to court filings cited by Bloomberg.

‘Going into this challenge, it seems we are at a turning point in history,’ Zuckerberg wrote as he revealed his challenge.‘For decades, technology and globalization have made us more productive and connected.

‘This has created many benefits, but for a lot of people it has also made life more challenging.

‘This has contributed to a greater sense of division than I have felt in my lifetime. We need to find a way to change the game so it works for everyone.’

Zuckerberg claims the challenge will help him at Facebook and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative set up with his wife ‘so we can make the most positive impact as the world enters an important new period.’